CHAPTER RULES OF THETEXAS STATE ORGANIZATION THE DELTA KAPPA GAMMA SOCIETY
INTERNATIONAL
ARTICLE I – NAME
The name of this chapter shall be Alpha Kappa Chapter of the Texas State Organization of the Delta Kappa Gamma Society International.
ARTICLE II – OBJECT
The object of Alpha Kappa Chapter shall be to carry out the policies and programs of work of the Delta Kappa Gamma Society International.
ARTICLE III – MEMBERSHIP
Section A: The membership of Alpha Kappa Chapter shall be composed of active, reserve, and honorary members. Membership in Delta Kappa Gamma is by invitation. An individual becomes a member when she is initiated and she is initiated once. A member is reinstated without a chapter vote.
Section B 1:
An active member shall be a woman who is employed as a professional educator or who has been retired from an educational position. Women are eligible after two years of service and in any year of retirement.
Section B 2:
New members shall be nominated at the November meeting, elected and initiated in the spring. A spring orientation will be provided to acquaint
prospective members with the organization.
ARTICLE IV – FINANCES
Section A:
Annual dues shall be required of active and reserve members at all levels of the society. State and international dues are established at conventions of the respective groups.
Section B:
Chapter dues shall be: Active members - local dues = $25 plus State and International dues = $55. Reserve members - local dues = $25 plus State and International dues = $27.00
Section C:
The chapter assessments shall be determined by a majority vote of chapter members present at a chapter meeting.
Section D: Finance Control
1. The Executive Committee shall submit annually a proposed budget to be presented by the Treasurer for adoption by a majority of chapter members present.
2. The Finance Committee shall submit an audit report done at the end of the biennium to the incoming Chapter Executive Board at their first meeting.
ARTICLE V – ORGANIZATION
Section A: Officers
The chapter officers shall be a President, a First Vice-President, a Second Vice-President, a Recording Secretary, and a Corresponding Secretary, (all
elected); and a Treasurer (selected by the Chapter Executive Board). The chapter officers shall be elected in even-numbered years by a majority vote of chapter members present.
Section B: Nominations
1. Nominations for chapter officers and the Nomination Committee shall be made in even numbered years by a Nominating Committee of three, elected by a majority of members present at a chapter meeting. One member of the Nominating Committee shall be retained for the Nominating Committee of the next biennium
2. The chapter Nominating Committee shall submit the name of one nominee for each elective position. Consent of each nominee must be obtained. The slate, with candidate qualifications, should be presented to the chapter members. Nominations may be made from the floor with the consent of the nominee.
3. If there is only one nominee for an office, election shall be by voice vote and a majority of the votes cast, elects.
4. If there are two or more nominees for an office, elections shall be by ballot and a majority of votes cast, elects. The Nominating Committee shall prepare the ballot and conduct the election.
Section C: Vacancies
1. When a vacancy occurs in the office of President, the First Vice-President shall become President.
2. When avacancy occurs in other elective or appointive positions, the Chapter President shall name the successor.
ARTICLE VI – CHAPTER MEETINGS
Section A: Regular meetings shall be held six times each year. Members are encouraged to attend.
Section B: A quorum shall be the members present at a regularly scheduled meeting.
ARTICLE VII – CHAPTER EXECUTIVE BOARD
1. The members of the Chapter Executive Board shall be elected officers of the chapter, The immediate past president, and such other voting members as determined by the chapter. The treasurer and the parliamentarian shall be ex-officio members, without vote.
2. Duties of the Executive Board
The Chapter Executive Board shall:
A. Select the treasurer for the biennium.
B. Act in matters requiring immediate action and decision.
C. Recommend policies and procedures for consideration by members.
D. Establish rules for budget development and approval for the supervision of chapter finances.
3. Meetings of the Executive Board
A. Meetings of the Executive Board shall be held at least twice annually. The board may meet at other times upon the call of the president.
B. A quorum shall be a majority of the voting members of the board.
ARTICLE VIII – COMMITTEES
Section A
1. Standing committees shall be the following: Ceremonial, Research/Scrapbook, Finance, Membership/Necrology, nominations, Program, Music, Personal Growth and Services, Professional Affairs, Legislation, Yearbook, Achievement Awards, Communications, Scholarship/World Fellowship, Social, and Benevolence.
2. Duties of the standing committees shall be:
Section B
All committees shall be appointed by the Chapter President except the Nominations Committee, and she shall be an ex-officio member of all committees except the Nominating Committee
AMENDMENTS
These Chapter rules may be amended by a 2/3 majority vote of members present in a chapter meeting.
MEMBERSHIP IN DELTA KAPPA GAMMA
Membership is by invitation and is extended to those women educators whose distinguished contributions and achievements in the field
of education and to their communities are identified as outstanding.
The three categories of membership are active, reserve and honorary. Active membership is by invitation to those educators who are employed in
educational work or has been retired from an educational position. Reserve membership is limited to those members no longer able to participate. Honorary membership is extended to selected women in recognition of their significant professional and/or community contributions to education who otherwise are ineligible for active membership.
Membership in the Society carries with it responsibility as well as honor. Those who accept the invitation to join commit themselves to taking an active part in programs, special projects and organizational activities.
Members are expected to participate at chapter meetings regularly and assume certain financial obligations as well. Dues are determined in accordance with the Constitution, the International Standing Rules, state organization bylaws and chapter rules. There are also nominal annual
assessments to support professional and self-development programs. The rewards of membership bear a direct relationship to each individual’s
commitment. Programs are designed to create a stimulating environment for the professional growth of each member
as well as to focus group attention on current educational issues and to allow formulation of alternatives and solutions.
Within this framework, chapters carry out their own programs and projects. Each is encouraged to develop presentations and activities that fit the needs of its members, their educational communities and the talents of chapter members. An international program manual suggests ways to implement Society-adopted themes.
Programs are further enhanced at the state and international levels through special projects and meetings. State organization conventions and workshops are held annually. International conventions are held biannually and alternate with regional conferences.
The International Society awards a number of scholarships to members who are enrolled in advanced study programs. More than four hundred members have received these scholarships, many of which honor outstanding Society Founders and members. Many state organizations and chapters also award scholarships and study grants at their respective levels.
The Society has established a World Fellowship Fund to provide opportunities for women educators to study in colleges and universities not located in their countries. As a leading non-governmental organization, we work with the Fulbright organization to bring promising women from developing countries to universities in the U.S. and Canada. We are involved at the United Nations through our affiliation with its Department of Public Information and its Economic and Social Council. We work with UNICEF and have raised nearly $200,000 for Afghanistan teachers. In 2008 we provided approximately $3 million to support educators and education.
In 1979, the Society celebrated its golden anniversary by establishing the Golden Gift Fund to advance further the Society’s Purposes. This
fund provides for leadership/management seminars; for travel grants to members attending international meetings where representation of the Society would help toward developing mutual understanding; for special stipends to research and offer alternatives to problems common to educators and/or education; and for workshops to address special member needs.
The Delta Kappa Gamma Society International presents an Educator’s Award to the author (s) of a book which may influence future directions of education. The author (s) must be a woman from a country in which the Society is established. To be considered for the award, the book must be published or translated into English within a prescribed one-year period. The content must be of more than local interest with relationship, direct or implied, to education everywhere.
Other Society programs include the Eunah Temple Holden Leadership Fund for promoting special leadership development projects: the Emergency fund, which gives assistance to members who sustain losses from natural disasters; and the International Speakers Fund, which assists with travel expenses incurred by speakers who address gatherings in countries other than their own.